Bottle-washing machine.



purpose by means of whic UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE] JOSEPH F. HALLER,OF SHERIDAN BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOTTLE-WASHING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH HALLER, a resident of Sheridan borough, inthe county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a newand usefulImprovement in Bottle-Washing Machines, of which the followingis a speclfioation.

This invention relates to Washing machines and more particularly tomachines for washing bottles and similar articles.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and convenient ap Iaratus for this the bottles or other articles can be thoroughly washedand which also serves as a conveyer between other apparatus used in thefactory or establishment.

For the attainment of the foregoing object a side elevation ofa machineconstructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinalsection ofthe same; Fig. 3.

is a vertical transverse section taken on the lines 33, Fig. 1; and Fig.fl is a'plan view of the conveyer adjusting means.

The machine comprises a bottom trough 1, top trough 2, hood 3, sprayingmeans 4 and a suitable conveyer or belt 5. The bottom trough 1 is closedat its bottom except for the outlet at 6 and at its upper edge isprovided with flaring pieces 7 to catch any splashings or drippings fromthe upper trough.

The upper trough has an open bottom as shown in Fig. 3 and is providedalong its .sides with inwardly projecting ledges or cleats 8 forsupporting the conveyor belt 5 and hold the same against sagging.

The bottom trough also preferably is provided with means of keeping thebelt from dragging on its bottom-as there 'is likely to be broken lassin the trough and this would cut the elt. This means is a pair ofrollers 9 mounted transversely of the trough. The conveyer is referablyan endless rubber belt or the like. It passes over wheels or sheaves 10,secured toshafts 11 which. are mounted in bearings 12 secured to thebottom trough. The 'up er trough islocated some little distance abovethe other trough as shown, being supported by-u rights 13, so giving aconvenient space for t e location of the wheel carrying shafts. One ofthese shafts is rovided with suitable driving means, sum as a pulley 14and one of them Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May23, 1908.

Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

Serial No. 434,607.

also has its bearings movably mounted and adjustable in order to tightenthe belt or conveyer and keep the same stretched.

The tightening means shown comprises a pair of rods 15, having threadedconnections at 16 to the bearings or pillow blocks 12, and having theirouter ends extending through a cross bar or yoke 17 and provided outsidethe. same with a head 18 or nut riveted thereto.- A jam nut 19 may alsobe used. The yoke or cross bar 17 is rovided with a threaded openingthrough which extends an adjusting screw 20 having its end seated in asocket 21 secured to the end piece 22 of the lower trough and providedat its outer. end with the hand wheel 23. The conveyer is tightened byturning the screw 20 as will be readily understood. Should the conveyernot be running s uarely over the pulley one or the other of t 'e rods 15is given a few turns, in that way adjusting the wheel shaft angularlyand securing. a straight travel of the belt or conveyer.

In order to permit the removal of an endless conveyer, such as a rubberbelt which is removable cross headers or spacing members 24, the samebeing removably secured in place by tie bolts 25. The tie bolts andcross members24 brace the sides of the trough and hold them in properposit-ion relative to-each other. To remove the belt or put it in laceit is merely necessary to remove tie olts and cross headers when thebelt can be inserted through the open bottom of said trough.

Supported above the upper trough near one end thereof is the hood 3, thesame comprising the two side pieces 27 and top -or cover 28, but beingopen at its ends so as to permit the bottles 29 or other articles to beWashed to travel through the same. Supported by brackets 30 on the topof the hood is the spray pipe 31 to which are connected a plurality ofspray nozzles 32 of any suitable type designed to form a spray of waterrather than a solid stream. The ends of these nozzles project downthrough openings in the cover of the hood. Each of said spray nozzles isreferably rovided with a pet cook 33, w ich not on y serves as acut-ofi' valve, but also to form the spray. The supsigned for connectionto a steam supply in order to give a pulsating flow, and cause the waterto emerge from the spray nozzles in gushes of considerable violence inorder to thoroughly cleanse the bottles or other articles. Each of thesebranches is provided with a cut-off valve 37. The hood and top andbottom troughs are connected by means of metal straps or braces 38 whichserve to tie the troughs together and brace the same, these straps orbraces being secured to the outer face of the'troughs and hoods.

The machine described is of simple construction and can be built of anydesired length. It rovides a straight travel for the articles to ecleansed and therefore may serve as a conveyer between different partsof the factory or plant in which located.

' For in s. taiice', the receiving end can be convenient'y located adjacent to the filling or corking machine or place, so that the bottles oiother receptacles can be taken directly from the latter and placed intothe entrance endof the trough. The delivery end of the machine may belocated adjacent to the labeling or wrapping machine or place, so that'the machine acts as a conveyer as well as forwashing and drying. Thewashing is done near the receiving end of the conveyer and the troughsare of such lengththat by the time the articles reach the delivery endthey are dry. Thewaier while washing is confined by the hood- 3 so thatit cannot splash out and it passes down through the open bottom of theto trough and into the lower trough, any sp ashings or drippings beingcaught by the flaring side pieces 7 of the bottomfltrough. If desired,the belt may be erforated but this is not necessary.

ainris-ii 1.- A be .lefwashing machine, comprising upperandlowert'roughs, shafts mounted at the ends of said troughs, guidewheels on said shafts, an endless conve er passing over said guideWheels, means in t e upper trougli supporting the upper reach of saidconveyer, and means for holding the conveyer from dragging on the bottomof the lower trough.

2. A bottle Washing machine, comprising upper and lower troughs spacedapart, an endless conveyer having its reaches located in said troughs,guide wheels for said conveyer at the ends of said troughs, inwardlyprojecting ledges in the upper trough upon which said conveyer rests,and means in lower trough for holding said conveyer from dragging on itsbottom.

3. A bottle washing machine, comprising upper and lower troughs spacedapart, shafts mounted between said'troughs at their ends, guide wheels'on said shafts, an endless conveyer passing over said guide wheels, andledges in the upper trough supporting the upper reach of said conveyer,said lower trough being provided with outwardly flaring upper edges.

4. A bottle washing machine, comprising upper and lower troughs spacedapart, shafts mounted between said troughs at their ends, wheels on saidshafts an endless conveyer working on said wheels, means in the uppertrough for holding the conveyer from sagging, and removable crossheaders connecting the lower edges of the sides of said upper trough.

5. A bottle washing machine, comprisin a trough, shafts mounted at theends of sai trough, wheels on said shafts, an endless conveyer workingon said wheels, rods having threaded connections with the bearings ofone of said shafts, a yoke or cross head to which said rods are rotatablconnected, and a screw for adjusting said yoli on the trough.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

' JOSEPH F. HALLER. Witnesses:

JOHN S. CoR'r, F. W. WINTERQ e longitudinally

